Nine out of nine for the Badgers

Tuesday 10th September 2013
Brocton 2 Lichfield City 1
St Mary’s Hospice Midland Combination Premier Division
At: Silkmore Lane, Stafford
Admission: £4; Programme: £1 (36 pages)

It turned out to be a good night for football in Stafford with positive news from the Badgers, Town and Rangers. Brocton returned to the top of the Premier Division table with a hard-fought victory 2-1 over Lichfield City which extended their 100% league record to six wins. Stafford Town recorded a 4-0 home victory over Pelsall Villa and Stafford Rangers, with Andy Mutch in temporary charge, picked up their first point of the season thanks to a 2-2 draw at home to Marine.

The Badgers have made an awesome start to the season by winning every one of the eight league and cup games they’ve played, including a victory over tonight’s opponents Lichfield in the Vase three days ago.

WON Sat 10 Aug – Brocton 4 Coventry Copsewood 0
WON Tues 13 Aug – Pelsall Villa 1 Brocton 7
WON Sat 17 Aug – Nuneaton Griff 2 Brocton 3 (FA Cup)
WON Sat 24 Aug – Littleton 1 Brocton 3
WON Mon 26 Aug – Brocton 4 Stafford Town 1
WON Sat 31 Aug – Brocton 6 Ellesmere Rangers 0 ( FA Cup)
WON Tue 3 Sep – Atherstone Town 2 Brocton 4
WON AFTER EXTRA TIME Sat 7 Sep – Lichfield City 3 Brocton 4 (FA Vase aet)

The game on Saturday sounds like it was a real cracker of a cup tie, settled in extra time by the odd goal in seven at Brownsfield Road with David Abelwhite’s penalty.

However, despite their 100% record, Brocton went into tonight’s derby in 3rd position with 15 points from 5 games. The top two, Littleton and Southam United, held a one-point advantage having played nine and eight games, respectively. Lichfield arrived at Silkmore Lane in 14th position in the 19 team Premier Division table with 9 points from 9 games.

Despite having plenty of games to choose from, a quartet of local groundhoppers including ‘Cannock Rob’ and ‘Rugeley Mugsy’ had the same idea as me by heading to what on paper looked an intriguing contest – and that is what it turned out to be from start to finish.

Brocton (in green and white) got the game underway defending the changing rooms end in the first half. It was good to see captain Matt Skinner in the side and prolific goalscorer Paul McMahon played up front alongside a new name to me in Jack Lees.

Watching the first half (unusually) from between the dugouts rather than the stand, I felt Lichfield posed quite a threat during the first half hour. Liam Holt and Kyle Minto both forced smart saves out of Brocton’s in-form goalkeeper Adam Whitehouse and Minto fired against the bar as well.

Brocton, however, took the lead shortly before the interval. Following a foul on McMahon by Todd Perry, Craig Hulme delivered the resulting free-kick from the left to the far post where McMahon headed the ball across the face of goal. Liam Haycock took full advantage to slot home at the far post.

A set piece led to Lichfield’s equaliser scored in the 58th minute. Holt sent a long-range free-kick into the area which struck the head of Gary Fife and flew past Whitehouse.

Controversy twice reigned around the 70th minute when referee Dragon Kusmanovic awarded Brocton two penalties in as many minutes. The first one, for a push on McMahon, resulted in a great save by Craig Johnson to keep out Fife’s spot kick. McMahon put the rebound over the bar. Saturday’s hero Dave Abelwhite stepped up to take the second one after Ash Bennett brought down Sam Bell inside the area. Like the Vase game, he fired the ball past Johnson to score what proved to be the winner.

Lichfield should have snatched a point in the closing stages. Holt crossed from the right but unchallenged Minto sent a free header wide of the target.

On top of the table with six league wins out of six, Brocton travel to Halesowen on Saturday for their first-ever FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie. The Badgers are really buzzing [if I can use a bee-related adjective in connection with a four-legged black and white creature].

Brocton (green with white sleeves / white / green): 1. Adam Whitehouse, 2. David Abelwhite, 3. Matt Skinner (capt), 4. Rob Tomlinson, 5. Dale Roberts, 6. Charlie Jones, 7. Sam Bell, 8. Liam Haycock, 9. Jack Lees, 10. Paul McMahon, 11. Craig Hulme. Subs: 12. Gary Fife (for Haycock, ht), 14. Damien Charie (for Lees, 71), 15. Mark Cooper (not used), 16. Jethro Jarrett (for McMahon, 79), 17. Mick Fox (not used). Manager: John Berks.

Lichfield City (red/red/red): 1. Craig Johnson, 19. Richard Deaville, 3. Jon Huckfield, 4. Todd Perry (capt), 5. Dan McLeod, 6. Dan Worrall, 18. Ash Bennett, 8. Dan Thurnstance, 9. Kyle Minto, 10. Liam Holt, 11. Ollie Budd. Subs: 12. Sam Griffin (not used), 14. Chris Milner (for Budd, 79), 15. Ross Adams (not used). Manager: Paul Holt.

Referee: Dragon Kuzmanovic
Assistants: James Cox and Phil Magness

Attendance: 50 (headcount)
Duration: first-half: 45:35; second-half: 47:31

Goals:
1-0 Liam Haycock (38)
1-1 Gary Fife (63 og)
2-1 David Abelwhite (71 pen)

Cards:
Brocton: none
Lichfield: Todd Perry (YC, 71)

Banks-like save earns Fairfield a point

Saturday 7th September 2013
Fairfield Villa 1 Sutton United 1
St Mary’s Hospice Midland Combination Division One
At: Fairfield Recreation Ground, Stourbridge Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: none; Programme: none
Weather: mix of sunny spells and dark clouds

I walked away from the Fairfield Recreation Ground thinking what a good advert for non-league football I’d just witnessed. Appropriately for the fourth annual Non-League Day, long-established Division One side Fairfield Villa and newly-promoted Sutton United served up an absorbing contest, the outcome of which was always in doubt until the referee’s final whistle bought a 1-1 to a conclusion. Villa’s early first-half goal scored by Nathan Davies was cancelled out when Steve Radzynski sidefooted home an equaliser for United just before the hour mark. But the highlight of the game had to be a wonder save by Fairfield's James Burrows which brought back memories of Banks against Brazil in the World Cup at Guadalajara all those years ago.

Unlike Tuesday at Wythenshawe, I arrived in plenty of time to obtain the lineups and explore this tree-enclosed and leafy venue which boasts a feature I don’t think I’ve ever seen at a football ground before. Easily spotted behind the goal closest to the clubhouse, a large two metre high ornamental sundial, perfectly aligned for GMT, neatly positioned amongst some benches and shrubbery. The dial itself is decorated with images that describe the village’s history. Nice feature. Another football-related feature that stands out (pardon the pun) is the area of covered standing near the two dugouts with a distinctive tall roof.

One fact being put right this afternoon was the one that said I’d never seen Fairfield Villa play before, home or away despite them being continuous members of the Combination since 1985. I’d seen Sutton towards the end of last season at home in Sutton Coldfield and they ended the 2013/14 as Division Two runners-up to gain promotion.

The current 2013/14 has been a good one so far for both Fairfield (8th out of 15 with eight points from five games) and Sutton (4th with 12 points from six games). Draw specialists Fairfield had suffered just one defeat and won both their home league games while Sutton won their first six league and cup games before losing at Hampton last Saturday.

Pre-match drama centred about one of the assistants failing to arrive so, much to my relief though I would have offered my services, a home club official ran the line.

Sutton (in dark green and black) got the game underway attacking what I’ll call the Sundial End and they certainly made an impressive start.

However, it was Fairfield who edged in front during the 13th minute. Adam Guest’s delicious diagonal ball forward from the left to the far post was met by the outstretched leg of Nathan Davies who deflected the ball past goalkeeper Matt Gough into the bottom right corner of the net.

During the interval, refreshments were served in the clubhouse and I had some time to read the dedication next to a red Manchester United shirt bearing ‘DAVIS 36’. It is displayed in tribute to Jimmy Davis, ‘a popular and talented young footballer who was tragically killed in a car accident in August 2003’. He played for both Feckenham and Knowle as a youngster before joining United at the age of 14.

Perhaps responding to some strong words during the interval, Sutton got back on level terms as the hour-mark approached. Phil Taylor, on the right, hit the bullseye with a perfect low cross into the area which Steve Radzynski swept home into the far left-corner of the net.

A wonderful save in the 73rd minute kept Villa on level terms, similar to the one by Gordon Banks during the 1970 World Cup. Radzynski got on the end of a low right-wing cross and hit a seemingly goalbound shot. However, similar to Banks at Guadalajara, Jamie Burrows got across to dive to his right and deflect the ball over the bar. ‘Wonderful save’ is probably understating the brilliance of the goalkeeper.

The Fairfield defence was forced to resolutely keep the Sutton attack at bay with all hands to the pump. Adam Watson, however, failed to convert an easy chance for the visitors during the final ten minutes. “That should have been the winner,” said someone within earshot as should a later chance which totally unchallenged Sam Simmonds fired wide.

Before making my way back up the M5 and home for the Strictly Come Dancing launch show, there was time to admire St Mark’s Church and locate the Nailers Arms in nearby Bournheath. Amongst the ales on offer at this the Cask Marque accredited pub was a new one for me in Bateman’s Yella Belly Gold.

There is certainly a lot to like about Fairfield Villa. Why did I leave it so long to pay them a visit?

Fairfield Villa (yellow/blue/blue): 1. James Burrows, 2. Jamie Hatfield, 3. James Cund, 4. Adam Guest, 5. Steve Frost (capt), 6. Chris Glover, 7. Ben Pearsall, 8. James Ashton, 9. Peter Jenney, 10. Nathan Davies, 11. Nic Briggs. Subs: 12. Gabor Yengel (for Cund, 70), 14. Oscar Collins (for Ashton, 76), 15. Kieran Evans (for Davies, 32).

Sutton United (dark green / black / black): 17. Matt Gough, 2. Phil Taylor (capt), 3. Matt Lewis, 4. Sam Simmonds, 5. Aaron Long, 6. Jamie Hunter, 7. Nick Bell, 8. Tom Hicks, 9. Steve Radzynski, 10. Ryan Simmonds, 11. Adam Watson. Subs: 12. Pete Bromley (for Taylor, 81), 14. Josh Duggan (for Bell, 76), 15. Lee Hooper (for Long, 23).

Referee: Jeff Widdett
Assistants: David Simons and club linesman

Attendance: 19 (headcount)
Duration: first-half: 47:15; second-half: 47:07

Goals:
1-0 Nathan Davies (13)
1-1 Steve Radzynski (58)

Cards: none

Georgians hang on for derby win

Tuesday 3rd September 2013
Wythenshawe Amateurs 2 Stockport Georgians 3
FBT Manchester League Premier Division
At: Wythenshawe Club, Longley Lane
Kick-off: 6-15 pm
Admission: none; Programme: none
Weather: sunny spells

For someone who prefers to arrive a good hour before kick-off, imagine the relief I felt just 14 minutes from the scheduled start of the Manchester League derby when the street name sign on the Farmers Arms told me I was about to turn left on to ‘Longley Lane’. And four minutes later after some toing and froing, I was parked up in a side street after discovering the small car park at the Wythenshawe Club was full. Panic over as I walked through the gate into the ground and huge sigh of relief, though not early enough to obtain the line-ups before the game commenced despite trying.

It was Peter Ford, on Facebook’s Non-League Grounds of England Wales and Scotland, who initially highlighted the game, and the two clubs’ websites and Twitter feeds whetted my appetite for a game between two unbeaten teams. Even so, I did make a late decision to head up the M6 to this corner of south Manchester. Peter did indeed make the trip along with ‘KYM’ and ‘DavyC’ as well as ‘Sale Holmfield’ whose presence I wasn’t aware of until reading his review on the Non-League Matters Forum.

I said that Barnet’s new Hive ground (see Saturday’s report) has a traditional layout for a lower-league ground and, in a different way, so does Wythenshawe’s ground – a classic part-roped, part-railed pitch on one side of a cricket ground. The surrounding greenery on a nice late summer evening added to the general pleasantness of the venue, located around six miles south of Manchester city centre. I’d wanted to visit for a long while as my wife was born at the local hospital.

Apart from the hospital connection, I felt some kind of familiarity with the home club. Did they feature on my old 1970s Bartholomew Football Map of England and Wales, or perhaps cropped up when I’ve reached the history of clubs that competed in the FA Amateur Cup? Peter Miles’ article dismisses the former idea (http://peterrmiles.wordpress.com/tag/bartholemews-maps/) as I can’t find my copy which used to be proudly displayed on my childhood bedroom wall.

What I do know, briefly, is that the club was originally founded as Wythenshawe Lads Club in 1946 and Wythenshawe Amateurs FC was established four years later. They are long-standing members of the Manchester League and used to compete in the FA Vase and its predecessor the FA Amateur Cup.

Both sides could rightly boast an unbeaten record; Wythenshawe (six points from four games) by virtue of three draws and Stockport Georgians (11 points from five games) by virtue of three wins.

Attacking the west end in the first, Wythenshawe (in blue and white) got the game underway and certainly were the brighter side. They almost took a 22nd minute lead when Mark Hughes’ corner was knocked down to Alan Dolan who saw his shot blocked on the line.

In a ‘first half or two half’, Stockport started to dominate as the interval approached, taking the lead in the 34th minute. Tyrone Turner put Michael Taylor clear on the right and the skipper lobbed Paul Hughes, the Ammies goalkeeper who hesitated as he left his line.

With much appreciation from myself, one Georgian official approached me during the interval to provide me with his team’s lineup.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 53rd minute. Stuart Torkington crossed from the left and Turner sent a looping header over Paul Hughes from the edge of the area.

Wanting to sample the view from the far side, I waited for a break in play before scurrying behind the goal. From my new vantage point near the away dugout, I saw what we thought was Georgians putting the outcome beyond doubt with a third unanswered goal scored just after the hour mark. George Langford's accurate pass split the home defence to present Sam Noar with a perfect change which he fired into the far bottom-left corner of the net.

Game over? Well, no as the Ammies staged a spirited late comeback.

David Wright powered home a header direct from a corner in the 71st minute to reduce the deficit and same defender saw a well-struck free-kick thump the Georgians bar. Then with a minute plus stoppage time remaining, Dean Preston scrambled home a second for Wythenshawe to set up a ‘grandstand’ finish.

The Ammies couldn’t complete their comeback and the three points took Georgians to the top of the Premier Division table.

My ‘teamsheet woes’ continued after the final whistle as the Wythenshawe lineup proved elusive, that was until back home when the website provided me the 16 names I needed.

Wythenshawe Amateurs (blue and white stripes / blue / blue and white hoops): 1. Paul Hughes, 2. Dean Preston, 3. Lee Preston, 4. Chris Howard (capt), 5. Aaron Flynn, 6. David Wright, 7. Adam Stuart, 8. Mark Hughes, 9. Pat O'Brien, 10. Gavin Stewart, 11. Alan Dolan. Subs: 12. Adam Walker (for Lee Preston, 60), 14. Anthony Osbourne (not used), 15. Matt Newell (not used), 16. Danny McDonald (for Mark Hughes, 74), 17. Paul Hayes (for Stewart, 60).

Stockport Georgians (red / black / red and white hoops): 1. David Cash, 2. Sam Halligan, 3. Stuart Torkington, 4. Paul Beresford, 5. Jake Bramwell, 6. Luke Seaton, 7. George Langford, 8. Tyrone Turner, 9. Michael Taylor (capt), 10. Sam Noar, 11. Sam Partridge. Subs: 12. Ryan McNally (for Noar, 69), 14. Stuart Rayes (not used), 15. Thomas Russell (for Taylor, 62), 16. Carlos Royo-Barcena (for Langford, 80).

Referee: Daniel Deakin
Assistants: Chris Goodwin and David Brown

Attendance: 64
Duration: first-half: 46:41; second-half: 48:52

Goals:
0-1 Michael Taylor (34)
0-2 Tyrone Turner (53)
0-3 Sam Noar (64)
1-3 David Wright (71)
2-3 Dean Preston (89)

Cards:
Wythenshawe Amateurs: Chris Howard (YC, 45+1), Paul Hayes (YC, 77)
Stockport Georgians: Sam Partridge (YC, 28), Michael Taylor (YC, 28), Tyrone Turner (YC, 90)

Bees buzzing at The Hive

Saturday 31st August 2013
Barnet 3 Hyde 2
Skrill Premier
At: The Hive, Camrose Avenue, Edgware
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £23 (seat in West Stand); Programme: £3 (70 pages)
Weather: warm and sunny

I felt a sense of excitement walking up Turner Road from Queensbury tube station towards The Hive, the recently-opened new stadium of Barnet FC. At the same time, a sense of trepidation also filled my mind as well because the lack of cashpoint machine amongst the parade of shops near the station had left me perilously short of cash for the full set of seat in the stand, programme and badge. Why did I potentially ruin my trip to The Hive? Of course I wished I’d buzzed towards a bank as well as, or instead off, sampling Sharp’s Doom Bar and Lancaster’s Ginger Snap in two previously unvisited Cask Marque pubs around Warren Street.

Again whilst walking, I thought about Barnet FC and the fact that it was over 41 years since I saw them lose to Stafford Rangers in 1972 FA Trophy Final, my match number two. I’ve got fond memories of Underhill, the stadium with the famous sloping pitch and assortment of stands which Barnet FC called home for 106 years until the summer move across North London to the Borough of Harrow.

Perhaps, the highlight of my seven visits to the old ground came in April 1986 when Bob Mountain scored a spectacular volley which clinched an aggregate victory for Stafford in a two-legged Bob Lord Trophy Final.

My nerves increased somewhat on arrival until a ‘BFC Helper’ pointed me in the direction of the ticket office at the south end and settled down when the chap behind the ticket office window told me that debit cards [and I guess credit cards as well] were accepted. The West Stand appealed especially with the position of the sun and for £23 I got a really good view of the action from Row E Seat 82, almost bang on the halfway line.

Now, suddenly with more than enough cash, a visit to one of the programme sellers returned to the agenda and I even could chance my luck with a 50/50 draw ticket as well. Badges could wait until after the game.

Originally the complex was part-developed as a new home for Wealdstone FC on what was the Prince Edward Playing Fields. Work stopped in 2004 and Barnet secured a lease two years later for their training ground and centre of excellence. The Hive stadium has what I would call a classic layout for a lower-league football – seats down both touchlines and covered terrace behind both goals. The West Stand with a capacity of 2684 seats is the dominant feature with the Jubilee Line running behind. Opposite the smaller East Stand is the ‘main stand’ even with a quarter of the capacity of the big stand. A big difference between Underhill and Hive is that the new pitch is as flat as a pancake with not a slope in sight, and a beautiful manicured playing surface as well.

Relegated from League Two at the end of last season, Barnet (1st with 11 points from 5 games) have started their first season back in the ‘Conference’ – now known as the Skrill Premier – in spectacular fashion. Fans could chant ‘We are top of the league’ following Monday’s 3-0 win at Braintree Town. In contrast, today’s visitors Hyde (21st with 2 points from 5 games) arrived at The Hive in the relegation zone having lost 8-0 at Forest Green on the opening day and subsequently drew 2-2 at Wrexham. Former Stafford Rangers striker David McNiven had the number 19 but hadn’t featured in any of Hyde’s games this season.

Attacking towards their own fans in the South End, Barnet got the game underway and didn’t take long to take the lead in the 5th minute. Curtis Weston fed Keanu Marsh-Brown on the right who raced into the area and steered a low shot wide of the diving David Carnell into the far bottom left corner of the Hyde net.

Barnet undoubtedly dominated most of the first half, the only surprise being it took them until the 40th minute to double their lead. Carnell blocked Jake Hyde’s initial shot and Mark Byrne fired home the rebound.

My bad luck and near misses with raffles and 50/50 draws are well documented. As the winning ticket number of today’s draw was announced, a sense of ‘it could be me’ grew as first “4”, then “3” then “1”, then “5” only to have a decent cash prize snatched for me with the revealing of the final digit “9” rather than a “5”. Damn – four numbers tickets after mine. At least it wasn’t the second ticket the seller tried to tempt me to buy.

Perhaps as an indicator of what was to come, one supporter sat behind me commented during the first half: “Hyde playing a little better now they’ve settled down”.

By my watch it took Hyde just 50 seconds to reduce the deficit at the start of the second half. Liam Tomsett, from fully 35 yards out, thumped a long range shot past Graham Stack.

The visitors were very much back in contention and another long range shot from Tomsett in the 78th minute got them back on level terms.

“They’ve had two very lucky long range shots,” said someone nearby in the stand. I thought they were better than that, once they’d settled down.

Barnet made a double change in a bid to score the winner and it turned out to be an inspired substitution. Harry Crawford had been on the field barely two minutes when the sent a low right-foot shot from the edge of the area into the bottom left corner of the net.

The drama wasn’t over as Louis Almond’s right-wing cross picked out unmarked Scott Spencer who ballooned his shot over the bar.

Relief for Barnet at full-time with a 3-2 win from a game they should have had sewn up long before Tomsett’s second-half double.

Walking away from the ground, I overheard that Cambridge United had won 3-0 to regain the lead, dropping the Bees to second on goal difference.

Reading Wikipedia, Barnet first team’s stay at The Hive could be a short one if ambitions to return the team to their home borough come to fruition. Their 10-year lease to play league football runs until the end of the 2022/2023 season.

Barnet (amber/black/black): 29. Graham Stack, 2. Andy Yiadom, 30. David Stephens, 5. Anthony Acheampong, 23. Jordan Brown, 17. Roberto Garcia Casabella, 8. Mark Byrne, 4. Curtis Weston, 7. Keanu Marsh-Brown, 11. Luke Gambin, 9. Jake Hyde. Subs: 20. Mauro Vilhete (for Villa, 82), 19. Luisma Villa (for Gambin, 28), 10. Harry Crawford (for Marsh-Brown, 82), 6. Jack Saville (not used), 13gk. Nick Jupp (not used). Head Coach: Edgar Davids.

Hyde (blue/blue/blue):1. David Carnell, 2. Josh Brizell, 22. Ben Dennis, 5. Luke Ashworth, 3. Adam Griffin, 6. Liam Tomsett, 16. Matty Mainwairing, 8. Alex Brown, 9. Scott Spencer, 10. Tom Collins, 15. Danny Carlton. Subs: 4. Will Haining (for Davies, 54), 11. Connor Hughes (for Mainwairing, 85), 7. David Poole (not used), 18. Louis Almond (for Collins, 71), 21. Adam Blakeman (not used). Manager: Scott McNiven.

Referee: Declan Ford
Assistants: Neil West and Rob Smith
Fourth Official: Jason Richardson

Attendance: 1669 (including 31 away fans)
Duration: first-half: 46:00; second-half: 49:40

Goals:
1-0 Keanu Marsh-Brown (5)
2-0 Mark Byrne (40)
2-1 Liam Tomsett (46)
2-2 Liam Tomsett (78)
3-2 Harry Crawford (84)

Cards:
Barnet: Andy Yiadom (YC, 67), Curtis Weston (YC, 76)
Hyde: Liam Tomsett (YC, 74)

Meliden 2 St Asaph 0

Monday 26th August 2013

For many, this was game 11 out of 11 on the 2013 Welsh Groundhop; for me simply the second leg of a Bank Holiday ‘double’. Like Llandyrnog, I was also impressed with the welcome at Meiden, a village a few miles inland from Prestatyn, and the ground certainly was buzzing with a mix of locals and hoppers. With numerous minds perhaps starting to focus on the journey home, a feisty local derby with a past history fitted the bill perfectly to retain attention and it was Meliden who came out on top with an unanswered goal in each half. On a pleasant sunny evening, the visitors created and failed to convert a host of chances before being punished just after the half-hour mark. Dean Moss got free of his marker to head home a left-wing cross. After a ‘lively’ barbecue briefly threatened to cause headlines off the field, Meliden clinched the local bragging rights with a victory-clinching second goal late on. What a super strike it was, a looping 30-yard shot which flew past the helpless Luke Jones.

Meliden 2 St Asaph 0
Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division Two
At: The Mine, Ffordd Pennant
Kick-off: 6-00 pm
Admission: £3; Programme: £1 (16 pages)
Weather: sunny

Meliden (orange/black/black): 1. Stephen Robinson, 2. Andy Jones, 3. Ryan Hassett, 4. Lewis Maroney, 5. Jamie Duffy, 6. Jamie Hobson, 7. Ashley New, 8. Jack McDougall, 9. Darren Cassidy (capt), 10. Dean Moss, 11. Alec Williams. Subs: 12. Kris Owen (for Moss, 62), 13. Woz Adam (for McDougall, 73), 14. Matty Mullholland (not used), 15. Matty Harrison (not used), 16. Adie Hoyle (for Duffy, 18). Manager: Paul Maroney.

St Asaph (white/blue/blue): 1. Luke Jones, 2. Johnny Taylor, 3. Jordan Owen, 4. Sam Benbow, 5. David Evans (capt), 6. Shane Thomas, 7. Steve Williams, 8. Paul Fleming, 9. Duncan Midgley, 10. Adam Cassidy, 11. Jason Foulkes. Subs: 12. Neil Cross (for Foulkes, 78), 14. Kris Fearnley (for Thomas, 67), 15. Matthew Quinn (not used), 16. Aiden Bell (not used). Manager: Graham Hunter.

Referee: Nathan Jones (Denbigh)
Assistants: Caerwyn Lloyd-Davies (Rhuddlan) and Nathan Wheatley (Denbigh)

Attendance: 323
Duration: first-half: 46:14; second-half: 49:00

Goals:
1-0 Dean Moss (34)
2-0 Darren Cassidy (84)

Cards: none

Llandyrnog United 1 Pwllheli 1

Monday 26th August 2013

For many years, I steered clear of all but the odd groundhop game. Mostly it was due to my commitment of ‘having’ to watch every Stafford Rangers game as a member of the press, particularly during the Phil Robinson era, and partly due to having a preference of visiting grounds on a ‘normal’ matchday. That all changed in 2010 when the annual August Welsh groundhop commenced a three-year stint in the Mid Wales League, a competition a grew to enjoy during the 1990s, particularly Sunday afternoon fixtures when the students of Aberystwyth University were the opposition. Hops weren’t just about watching three or four games a day, I again quickly realised the value of them as a social gathering – a congregation assembling from near, far and wide with a common love of the beautiful game. This game didn’t disappoint either with Josh Davies’ early goal for Llandyrnog cancelled out shortly before half-time by Pwllheli’s Meical Williams.

Llandyrnog United 1 Pwllheli 1
Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division One
At: Cae Nant
Kick-off: 2-30 pm
Admission: £4; Programme: £1 (20 pages)

Llandyrnog United (sky blue / navy blue / navy blue): 1. Gaz Pope, 2. Rob Render, 3. Iwan Davies, 4. Dan Porter, 5. Adam Lloyd, 6. Aled Roberts (capt), 7. Danny Roberts, 8. Sion Davies, 9. Josh Davies, 10. Tom Matischok, 11. Danny Jones. Subs: 12. Simon Brown (for Danny Jones, 80), 14. Liam Jones (for Render, 90+2), 15. Chris House (for Iwan Davies, 87), 16. Russ Moorcroft (not used). Managers: Russ Pierce and Neil Jones.

Pwllheli (white/black/black): 1. Kevin Davies, 2. Gareth Mellor, 3. Cedri Lloyd, 4. John Jones (capt), 5. Rhodri Scott, 6. Meical Williams, 7. Kyle Goodfellow, 8. Jamie Banks, 9. Dan Rylance, 10. Mark Bridge, 11. Dewi Jones. Subs: 12. Daffyd Jones (not used), 13. Lee Fletcher (not used). Managers: Steven Smith and Gareth Piercy.

Referee: Phil Hughes

Attendance: 232
Duration: first-half: 45:30; second-half: 50:53

Goals:
1-0 Josh Davies (4)
1-1 Meical Williams (40)

Cards: none

Paget Rangers 2 Perrywood 3

Saturday 24th August 2013

Plenty of boxes ticked on this short trip to north Birmingham – first visit since the 1980s to much-changed and renamed Trevor Brown Memorial Ground, a first look at the reformed Paget Rangers and a chance to catch up with Worcester-based visitors Perrywood. The contest lived up to its ‘big game’ billing on Twitter as Perrywood twice came from behind to equalise before scoring the winner. They then survived an onslaught of pressure during the closing stages from 10-man Paget. Worthy of a mention are the tea bar ladies who made one vegetarian (i.e. me!) extremely happy with a double Linda McCartney sausage hot dog topped with fried onions. It was good to be back at Church Road!

Paget Rangers 2 Perrywood 3
St Mary’s Hospice Midland Combination Division Two
At: Trevor Brown Memorial Ground, Church Road, Great Barr
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £2; Programme: £1 (16 pages)
Weather: sunny spells

Paget Rangers (amber/black/black): 1. Paul Smith, 2. Michael Edmead, 3. Jeremie Lacaze, 4. Graham Bond, 5. Thomas O’Callaghan, 6. David Franklin, 7. Ashley Churchill, 8. Daniel Zouch (capt), 9. Mark Bennett, 10. Nathan Joshi, 11. Luke Bradley. Subs: 12. Michael Harrigan (for Lacaze, 60), 14. Kurt White (for Edmead, 74), 15. Richard Gayle (not used), 16. Matthew Coates (not used).

Perrywood (blue and white halves / blue / blue): 1. Carl Preece, 2. Logan Stoddart, 3. Chris Moore, 4. Jack Godwin, 5. Jordan Stoddart, 6. Carl Smith (capt), 7. Samuel Smith, 8. Luke Whittington, 9. Simon Mills, 10. Lee Seldon, 11. Jack Marsh. Subs: 12. Lewis Butterworth (for Mills, 26), 14. Ashley Banner (not used), 15. George Martin (for Seldon, 58), 16. Connor Poole (not used), 17. Nick Pearce (not used).

Referee: Alan Walker
Assistants: Christopher Morby and Colin Hewitt

Attendance: 41
Duration: first-half: 48:18; second-half: 50:15

Goals:
1-0 Carl Smith (6 og)
1-1 Simon Mills (18)
2-1 Daniel Zouch (21 pen)
2-2 Jordan Stoddart (56)
2-3 Luke Whittington (59)

Cards:
Paget: David Franklin (RC, 84)
Perrywood: none